Comments: The largest ink manufacturer in Mexico, Sanchez SA de CV has continued to expand its operations throughout Central America, becoming the largest ink supplier in the region. This expansion has proved to be a wise decision; while Mexico’s economic growth slowed in 2013, Sanchez SA de CV grew in other countries, keeping its 2013 ink sales of $130.5 million relatively equal to the previous year.

“The year 2013 ended up being a disappointment for Mexico,” said Ernesto J. Sanchez, Sanchez SA de CV’s managing director. “The economy grew only 1.3%, a number way below from the 3.9% achieved the previous year. The expectations for President Peña Nieto’s first year in the office were much higher.”

In the last few years, Sanchez SA de CV has opened subsidiaries in El Salvador (Sanchez Centroamerica), Guatamala (Tintas Sanchez Guatemala SA) and Costa Rica. In 2012, Sanchez SA de CV partnered with the Samudio family, owners of Preflex, a Colombian resin and adhesive manufacturer, to open Grupo Sanchez Colombia. This allows the company to supply inks to multi-national partners.

“We managed to increase the volumes in the countries we serve outside Mexico in order to compensate for some of the markets that are showing signs of weakness,” Sanchez said. “With our multi-regional coverage, we have been able to supply big international convertors quite successfully, and even some multi-national magazine printers.”

Sanchez SA de CV has embarked on an extensive modernization program, updating its offset ink manufacturing plant in Mexico City, and moving its liquid inks manufacturing activity to the company’s new plant in Tepeji del Rio, north of Mexico City, in 2013. With these modern plants in place and anticipated growth in the Mexican and regional economy, Sanchez expects a strong year in 2014.

“We expect the economy to grow at higher levels this year, and we are sure that with our brand new manufacturing site in Tepeji del Rio we will be ready for the task,” Sanchez concluded.